EARLY WORK (1972-1975): LATIN AMERICA / BRAZIL (1974-1975)

In the fall of 1974 I left for an overland trip to Latin America. My destination was Salvador, Bahia. I had met the Brazilian musicians Airto and Flora Purim in San Francisco, where I photographed them rehearsing at the Keystone Corner. After hearing their stories about their home country, I knew I had to see for myself.

I survived the long ride on the 'tren de muerte' from Santa Cruz, Bolivia to Sao Paulo. After six weeks in Brazil I returned to California and saved up to return the following year. I didn't know it but my timing was fortuitous. The editorial market was diminishing in the US (Life and Look were disappearing) but it was in fact growing in Brazil. After freelancing in Rio for a few months, I landed a job with Manchette, the equivalent of Life magazine of Brazil. I went on to become a staff photographer with Revista Geografica (their National Geographic).